‘It’s like Baileys – but way better’
Irish cream is often synonymous with Baileys, but some drinkers say another bottle deserves the spotlight. One liqueur in particular has been gaining attention online, with Irish commenters recommending it as a smoother, higher-quality alternative – and it’s currently discounted at Tesco.
Discussions on travel forums and Irish Reddit threads have pointed curious shoppers towards Coole Swan, a premium Irish cream made with simple, natural ingredients, which is now available for £20 down from £26.50 at Tesco with a Clubcard. On Tripadvisor, one person asked what is the best Irish cream to get, to which another answered: “Another vote for Coole Swan from me. It’s been my drink of choice for about a year now!”
This led the original person to say: “I decided to go with Coole Swan, and I am excited to be able to try it!!” On Reddit, another person said: “I’m actually sitting beside a bottle I’ve bought for the gf’s dad. It’s great stuff!” while a third said: “It’s been around for ages I’d say! I quite enjoy it.”
With the current deal available, it’s giving shoppers a chance to try the award-winning drink for less. Unlike many Irish creams that rely on flavourings, Coole Swan says it focuses on just a handful of high-quality ingredients.
Each bottle blends single malt Irish whiskey with real Belgian white chocolate, fresh Irish dairy cream from the brand’s own farm in County Cavan, and a touch of vanilla for balance. The result is a lighter, smoother liqueur with less sugar and a more natural taste, the brand says.
The Coole Swan Cream Liqueur is available from Tesco
£26.75
£20
Coole Swan
Buy here
Coole Swan is said to deliver the finest single malt Irish whiskey, real Belgian white chocolate and fresh Irish cream
Because of its fresh ingredients, it is worth noting that the bottle needs to be stored in the fridge once opened. The brand has also picked up more than 90 international awards, including major wins at the San Francisco Wine & Spirits Awards and a 96/100 rating from Wine Enthusiast. It was even ranked the number one Irish cream liqueur by Tasting Table, beating Baileys and several other competitors.
For those looking for a gift around Mother’s Day or Easter, or simply a creamy after-dinner drink, the liqueur can be enjoyed chilled over ice, added to cocktails or sipped slowly on its own. Another option around the same price range is the Irish Mist Honey Liqueurs for £24.50, down from £27.70, on Amazon.
This blends honey and ‘complex spice notes’, as well as some fruity nuances and a trace of vanilla, the listing says. It comes in a 700ml bottle and almost 3,000 shoppers have rated it highly on Amazon, with an average 4.8 out of five-star rating.
Master of Malt also has the Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur (70cl) for £28.50, down from £29.49. Produced in County Cork, single batches of fresh cream are blended with triple distilled Irish whiskey within 48 hours of being collected, with the cream sourced from five family-owned farms in the region, to create this product, the site says.
On the Coole Swan website, customers have rated the whiskey highly, as one person said: “Really enjoyed making some amazing cocktails with it! Yummy.”
Another wrote: “Silky smooth and too easy to drink. Absolutely delicious!” Someone else also said: “Coole Swan Superior Irish cream Liqueur as it says on the bottle. I am Irish and this is my favourite one, I would highly recommend it.”
On Trustpilot, there were some slightly opposing reviews, as one person said as part of a longer review: “My order arrived damaged so I emailed Coole Swan to let them know. The response was personal, friendly and professional. Absolutely no question, a replacement was sent the next day.”
Another person said: “It’s like Baileys – but way better.”
